(October 2, 2013)… Rochester Knighthawks’ Stephen Keogh and Matt Vinc have been named to the 51-man tryout roster for the Canadian National Men’s Field Lacrosse Team. The duo will now compete to play for their country at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships, which will be held from July 10-19, 2014, in Denver.

“Anytime you have an opportunity to represent your country it is definitely an honor. I get goose bumps just thinking of putting on the jersey,” said Vinc.

Vinc has played for Canada in the past two FIL World Championships and in the 2012 Dual in Denver. The St. Catharines native won gold in 2006 and silver in 2010. Playing field lacrosse allows the three-time National Lacrosse League Goalie of the Year to play a different role as a long-pole defenseman, which he mastered at Canisius College. With tryouts less than two weeks away, he is focused on a repeat of 2006, which means defeating the favored U.S. team on its home turf.

“I have been fortunate to represent my country twice in the field game. The last time I was on the losing end,” said Vinc. “I want nothing more than to give it my all and have a chance at redemption.”

Team Canada is coached by Knighthawks Hall of Famer Randy Mearns, who also serves as the head coach at Division I Canisius. The selection camp will be held at the college’s downtown athletic complex from October 11-14 in Buffalo. The announced roster features lacrosse stars John Grant Jr. Garrett Billings, Kevin Crowley, Jordan Hall, Mark Matthews and Brodie Merrill.

“Getting from 97 applications to the 51 Team Canada invitee list was certainly no easy task and when you look at the quality and character of the selection camp list our job doesn’t get any easier," said Mearns. "I am excited to bring this group together in a few weeks and I know we’ll have many tough decisions to make. In my experience with the national program, I think it is safe to say that this is the deepest, most qualified group of Canadian field lacrosse players trying to earn a spot to represent Canada next July.”

Keogh will join Vinc at the tryouts, as he bids to make the team for the first time in his career. The Toronto native just recently completed his third season in Major League Lacrosse with the Hamilton Nationals. In 2013, he finished fifth on the Nationals with 20 points and fourth in goals with 16. In 2012, he led the Nationals with 26 goals, which was tied for seventh in the MLL. In college, Keogh was a two-time NCAA champion at Syracuse University (2008 and 2009) and a three-time All-American.

Over the past two seasons in the indoor game, Keogh and Vinc have enjoyed back-to-back National Lacrosse League titles. Despite his recent success, Keogh admitted that there would be nothing like playing for Team Canada.

“It's a great feeling to be invited with such a talented group of players,” he said. “It has been a dream of mine to represent Canada and I look forward to giving my all at camp and hopefully getting the chance to put on the jersey.”

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